Non-centric oxy-fuel burner for glass melting systems

Abstract

A burner for use in a combustion chamber of a furnace or a forehearth includes a gas delivery member for delivering a gaseous oxidant, a fuel delivery member for delivering a fuel and having a portion disposed at an interior of the gas delivery member and offset from a longitudinal axis of the gas delivery member, and a flange assembly mechanically associated with the gas and fuel delivery members, the flange assembly adapted for rotational movement to releasably secure the gas and fuel delivery members with respect to each other to provide a flame footprint at a select location in the combustion chamber.

1 . A burner for use in a combustion chamber of a furnace or a forehearth, comprising a gas delivery member for delivering a gaseous oxidant, a fuel delivery member for delivering a fuel and having a portion disposed at an interior of the gas delivery member and offset from a longitudinal axis of the gas delivery member, and a flange assembly mechanically associated with the gas and fuel delivery members, the flange assembly adapted for rotational movement to releasably secure the gas and fuel delivery members with respect to each other to provide a flame footprint at a select location in the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       2 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the gas delivery member and the portion of the fuel delivery member are parallel with each other. 
   
   
       3 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the fuel delivery member is disposed at an angle at the interior of the gas delivery member. 
   
   
       4 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein only the fuel delivery member is rotatable at the flange assembly. 
   
   
       5 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the gas delivery member comprises a gas pipe. 
   
   
       6 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel delivery member comprises a fuel pipe. 
   
   
       7 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel delivery member comprises a plurality of fuel pipes. 
   
   
       8 . The burner of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of fuel pipes are an integral unit. 
   
   
       9 . The burner of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of fuel pipes are disposed at an angle at the interior of the gas delivery member. 
   
   
       10 . The burner of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one support member disposed in the gas delivery member to support the fuel delivery member in spaced relation with respect to the gas delivery member and offset from the longitudinal axis of the gas delivery member during the rotational movement to releasably secure the gas and fuel delivery members. 
   
   
       11 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the flange assembly comprises a first flange mounted to the gas delivery member, the first flange having a first plurality of holes therethrough; a second flange mounted to the fuel delivery member, the second flange having a second plurality of holes therethrough; the first plurality of holes in the first flange and the second plurality of holes in the second flange arranged for being in registration with each other upon rotational movement of the first and second flanges to a select position with respect to each other; and a fastener assembly to releasably secure the first and second flanges to each other at the select position. 
   
   
       12 . The burner of  claim 11 , wherein the second flange is fixed to the fuel delivery member for rotation therewith. 
   
   
       13 . The burner of  claim 12 , wherein the fuel delivery member is rotatable to circumscribe a path around a central longitudinal axis of the gas delivery member. 
   
   
       14 . The burner of  claim 11 , further comprising a seal mounted to at least one of the first flange or the second flange for providing sealing engagement of the first and second flanges. 
   
   
       15 . The burner of  claim 11 , further comprising a collar mounted to an exterior surface of the gas delivery member, the collar having a mechanical fastener associated therewith for releasably securing the collar to the exterior surface of the gas delivery member for preventing the gas delivery member from moving into the furnace or the forehearth. 
   
   
       16 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel delivery member comprises an angled portion upstream of the flange assembly. 
   
   
       17 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the gaseous oxidant is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, oxygen and nitrogen, oxygen and other noble gases, and combinations thereof; and the fuel is selected from the group consisting of natural gas, propane, liquid petroleum gas, synthetic gas, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       18 . The burner of  claim 11 , wherein the fastener assembly comprises mechanical fasteners for coacting with the first and second flanges.